This disturbing situation came to light during an ongoing state investigation of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer's successful re-election campaign. An unsuccessful candidate accused the city of making improper salary payments to fire-union members who took time off to work in Mr. Dyer's campaign. The veracity of the wrongdoing allegation still has not been proved.

Giving union members time off with pay to handle worker grievances or negotiate a labor contract is reasonable. Those activities affect operations of the department and its service to the community. But whom to support in a political race is a private matter. No public dollars should be involved. It's wrong for a public officeholder to use official stationery in a political campaign. The same goes for allowing firefighters to take time off with pay to work for a candidate. This current arrangement is a back-door political contribution -- courtesy of taxpayers.

When the city signs a new labor contract next year with the firefighters union, it needs to prohibit paying union members who take time off for campaign work. Other local governments should follow suit.

This change does not prevent firefighters from exercising their freedom to support candidates. But they ought to do it on their own time with their own dime.